Sept 27, 2016: Xiamen Airlines launched its Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service on September 26, creating an air bridge connecting two of China's major special economic zones and an economic heavyweight on the US West Coast.
The route will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with three flights per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

This is not only the first long haul route originating in Xiamen with an end point in the United States, but also the first direct international service between Shenzhen and the US.

Che Shanglun, chairman and general manager, Xiamen Airlines, said, "The launch of the Xiamen-Shenzhen-Seattle service is an important reflection of the results of the meeting between Chinese and American leaders in 2015. On the heels of these events, a Fuzhou-New York and a Xiamen-LA service will also be initiated, making air travel, and, by consequence, exchanges between the two countries much easier."

The existing services include Xiamen-Amsterdam, Fuzhou-Sydney, Xiamen-Sydney, Xiamen-Melbourne and Xiamen-Vancouver.

To complete the build out of a network that extends beyond Seattle, Xiamen Airlines has signed a partnership agreement with Alaska Airlines that enables passengers traveling to Seattle via Xiamen Airlines, to fly onward to 61 major and secondary destinations across the US, Canada and Mexico by connecting to an Alaska Airlines flight in Seattle.